GasBuddy News Article

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ABB Advance Makes Renewable-Energy Supergrids Practical

MIT Press, technology review
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ABB, the large power and automation company, has developed technology that could provide an efficient way to transmit power from widely distributed solar panels, wind turbines, and other sources of renewable energy. The new technology is a fast and efficient circuit breaker for high-voltage direct-current (DC) power lines, a device that has eluded technologists for 100 years. The breaker makes it possible to join high-voltage DC transmission lines to form a resilient power grid.

If renewable energy is ever to account for a large part of the total energy supply, countries will need to install new, large-scale transmission grids, both to get power to cities from remote areas such as deserts that often have the best renewable resources, and to combine power from widely distributed wind turbi

ABB Advance Makes Renewable-Energy Supergrids Practical, a DC power grid? DC (Direct Current) does Not work for long distance transmission lines, that has been proven a long time ago. It must be some new kind of new fancy technology that makes it easy to transmit on a Supergrid in a Practical way. Better yet, place solar panels and wind turbines on houses and large business and warehouse roofs to generate electricity locally and eliminate supergrids as much as possible.Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money.The price of fuel at the pump is too high!XII/XXII/MMXII!

If a technological break through makes long distance DC transmission a better option than AC transmission for electric power, the power companies will be all over the new technology as a way to reduce their cost. How DC transmission lines could possibly make solar and wind power generation more competitive, as implied in the article, versus solar and wind power generation over AC transmission lines is not explained in the article and the argument that DC transmission is better for the solar and wind industry in some unexplained way makes no sense.

On the topic of underground versus above ground, bear in mind that the achilles heel of above ground transmission lines are wind, falling trees and ice damage but it is basically impervious to flood damage. On the other hand, the achilles heel of underground transmission lines is flooding but it is basically impervious to wind, falling tree and ice damage. There will be power outages no matter where the transmission lines are plACed be it underground or above ground.

Take note that the rule of thumb in the electric power industry is that the cost for underground installation of transmission and distribution lines is that underground installation is a bit more than five (5) times as expensive to build for any distance planned. The maintenance cost of underground lines is higher than for above ground transmission and distribution lines as well because of the cost of exposing damaged or malfunctioning section/equipment in order to effect any repairs/replacement.

Extremely incorrect redbeard..... You should take the time to read before commenting. The subject is some basic and promising research to advance this technology to the next level. You are more likely to be swindled by you local or state power company, esp. if they utilize Chesapeake Energy or a Koch Industries branch.

I'm all for it. Think of all the clear cutting of forests. This will generate lots of jobs and just imagine all the lawsuits from environmentalists that will keep the lawyers rolling in the bucks for years to come.

If only the technology were available for residences at an affordable price. Those who are dependent upon petroleum products to keep warm in the winter would be ever so grateful not to have to pony up with whatever prevailing prices are every year.